anyone like blooming lilac bonsai?

[JasPR]

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE bonsai and I certainly admire your's in bloom. Well done! It shows the plant is in normal cycle and well cared for. The artistic way you have it looking 'tree like' is to be commended and honored. It's just that I know the amount of work, worry and care that needs to go into these 'little trees' over a long period of time. I found it truely 'wearing' and although I've had the satisfying moments, I am mostly 'baptized' by the not so good events in bonsai failure!
I'm a big fan and believer in taking what one has learned from both success and failure and using it in life in general and not just in the limited area that the failure or success happened. In that regard, I find that my 'mostly failure' in bonsai makes me more sensitive and understanding/patient when I see the same struggle occurring with a newbie in my area- 'nishikigoi and their flourishing' ( or lack there of!). I can safely say I am on soild ground there and can hopefully bring perspective to the frustrated newbie. Some will still leave the koi hobby anyway when they actually come face to face with what is involved in keeping koi well. Others will double the commentment. And upon the 'break thru' tend to forget the painful learning years and come to find koi keeping rather easy. Tricky always, but peaceful and not too hard most of the time.
I guess what I'm saying here is, I've learned from experience that my thumb is more 'wet' than 'green'! LOLs JR

[l113892]

I was trimming on my Chinese Elm the other day and I thought that there was no way I could give this one tree ALL the time it needs to get the most out of it, much less the other seven trees I have. Fortunately my other trees don't require near as much work. I'm already past the fear of the trees dying but other hobbyists guided me in my tree selection which makes a big difference.

To Jim's point, I find the challenges w.r.t my pond can apply to my life. The latest issue was a six outlet electrical strip that went bad causing the all the pumps to trip repeatedly. I had just changed one of my main pumps when the electrical issue started. If it isn't one thing it's another. There are times I have minor challenges and there are other times when I am severely challenged. I hope over the years I will have made enough enhancements on the pond that I am never nervous about the pond and the fish but for now that is just my goal. And with all the anxiety comes a sense of accomplishment at the shows.

Is that the shiro that was in the Omosako video I just watched?

[JasPR]

I had, at one point ,three of the Chinese elms! 48, 57 and 67 years old. WHAT pressure it was NOT to kill such old trees! And the pruning was a BEAR! Worked on them for 45 minutes to an hour each day in the growing season. You need to get to those shoots before they green up! And pinch those new leafs, ASAP. Finally I managed to kill two of them one winter after about 8 years of ownership ( they owned me, I did not own them!) . I just couldn't get back on the horse after than ( or should I say couldn't get back on the branch again? ). The trees I planted were all maples and pines. I still have some very old and exotic tropicals ( need some work are basically sound). One is from Hurricane Andrew that devastated Homestead FL in 92. It was trained for a few years by a master before I got it. That Ficus puppy has a trunk that must be 25 inches around! Like to buy them cheap? JR

[dick benbow]

I do think the point about patience can be learned with bonsai. one year you get the tree healthy. the next year you prune and wire, the year after that you repot. The average american will want to do it all at once which usually is too much of a shock. This patience switches over well to our beloved koi.


What i also find fascinating is the similarity between bonsai soil breathing and creating healthy environment and bio filtration......
thanks everyone for your input. A nicely positioned bonsai along a beautiful pond does add to the overall japanese-like environment

[Lam Nguyen]

Quote: Originally Posted by dick benbow I do think the point about patience can be learned with bonsai. one year you get the tree healthy. the next year you prune and wire, the year after that you repot. The average american will want to do it all at once which usually is too much of a shock. This patience switches over well to our beloved koi. What i also find fascinating is the similarity between bonsai soil breathing and creating healthy environment and bio filtration...... thanks everyone for your input. A nicely positioned bonsai along a beautiful pond does add to the overall japanese-like environment

I cannot agree with you more about the similarity between bonsai and koi in general. Both require extreme patience and environment condition and daily care to bring out the best in them. And you are right, a bonsai, when placed next to a pondside, is a very pretty thing to behold.

[Tamianth]

Beautiful Dick!

I have lilacs in my yard out front. I just love them when they bloom! I've alway's wanted to try a Bonsai tree.. They sure are beautiful! I'm alway's fascinated with the pictures posted and information. Thanks for sharing this lilac! I've been amazed at all the different varities that I have seen posted up..... I never knew that so many different species could be used!